The city has indulged itself in the celebrations of Makar Sankranti. Tribals are looking to participate in the Tusu (the goddess of fertility and harvest) idol competition and 'chaural', (a structure made of bamboo worshipped as a symbol of happiness) competition for far off villages.
Administration has also geared up for a peaceful Makar Sankranti with elaborate security arrangements, however focus is on riverside ghats.
The district police has mobilized more than 3,000 police force along with around 200 women cops for deployment at places which would witness huge crowds during Makar Sankranti and Tusu festivity at different places of the city.
“We will be deploying a large number of police personnel at Domuhani which would witness a fair and also along the river banks which would witness a large number of devotees during the festivity. All the thana OCs have been directed to increase vigil along approach roads to major ghats and also to picnic spots as people will also throng picnic spots. The highway patrol vans would be doing regular patrols along NH-33 and along Tata-Hata Road and Jaduguda-Sundernagar Road to deter miscreants from committing mischief,” said a police official.
Significantly, fairs would be organised to mark Tusu festivity at Domuhani (the largest fair in the region), Bhillaipahari, Ghaghidih, Parsudih and even in Ghatshila drawing thousands of tribals.
Special vigil would also be held at crowded places which witness cockfights to avoid any law and order situation For those office going professionals who avoid street food and prefer to binge at eateries inside the market areas will have to compromise.
The tribals in and around the city are gearing up to celebrate Tusu, the harvest festival, with traditional fanfare and gaiety. Various social and cultural organisations are set to organise Tusu Mahotsav at places like Domuhani, Sonari (the meeting point of Subarnarekha and Kharkai) and Itagarh.
Hundreds of people, especially tribals, would assemble there to take part in the annual celebrations. Various tribal groups would carry the idol of Goddess Tusu for immersion. The mela at Sonari, one of the oldest in the city, draws the maximum crowd. It is famous for organising traditional events with festivities.
"Melas are a traditional part of Tusu. It is organised with an aim to bring the traditional tribal culture and tribal artisans to the limelight. We have also planned a number of contests during the mela," said an official, organising committee, Tusu Mela Samiti, Itagarh.
The annual Tusu mela at Gopal Maidan also turns out to be a jamboree of tribal artists and performers not only from Jharkhand but also from neighbouring states like Odisha and Bengal.